Chickworth departed with something worse than a flea in his ear, and the commander and Louis went down to breakfast. The moonlight excursion and the conflict with the outlaws were the subjects of conversation at the table. Louis took a great deal of pains to set forth that Sir Scott, as he called him in retaliation for the application of the title to himself, was the hero of the occasion. The process of lassoing the stout smuggler excited a great deal of interest, and was unanimously regarded as a brilliant operation, both in its conception and execution.
"I am confident that we should have been utterly defeated if Sir Scott had not solved the difficult problem of how to overcome Gray," said Louis with enthusiasm.
"His achievement with the hand-saw was not altogether lacking in brilliancy," added Dr. Hawkes.
"That was not original, like the lasso," replied Louis.
"It was original in its application to this particular case, and he is entitled to none the less credit," suggested Uncle Moses.
"I wish to do something for Sir Scott in response to the high commendation of Captain Belgrave," said the commander.
Uncle Moses threw himself back in his chair, and shook his two hundred and twenty-six and a half of avoirdupois with laughter when he heard his ward dubbed as a captain. His mother laughed too, and so did most of the party.
"Has my son become the commander of the Guardian-Mother?" asked Mrs. Belgrave.
"He has not formally taken the command of her; but as the owner of the steamer, he has an undoubted right to do so when he pleases," replied Captain Ringgold. "I wish to do something for Sir Scott: what shall it be, Louis?"
"Call him Captain Scott, and never again call me Captain Belgrave," replied Louis.